Process for a liquid treatment of cloth

ABSTRACT

A process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing in water, desizing and scouring, in which numberless foams are fed between guide rollers positioned in a treatment liquor and the cloth is put on the guide rollers.

Elited States Sando et al.

atet

[54] PROCESS FOR A LIQUID TREATMENT OF CLOTH [72] Inventors: Yoshikazu Sando; Takashi Tsuchihashi; Hiroshi Ishidoshiro, all of Wakayama-ken, Japan [73] Assignee: Santo Iron Works Co., Ltd., Wakayamashi, Wakayama-ken, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 12, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 884,575

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 19, 1969 Japan ..44/38545 June 16, 1969 Japan... ..44/474l0 Nov. 4, 1969 Japan ..44/8832O [52] U.S. Cl ..8/l49.1, 68/183 [51] Int. Cl ..B05c 3/152 151 3,655,328 Apr. 11, 1972 [58] Field of Search ..68/1 83, 207; 8/1 49.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,729 1/1962 Menzel ..68/l83 2,118,807 5/1938 Carter et al ..68/183 2,790,698 4/1957 Robertson et al ..8/l49.l X

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Attorney-McGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT A process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing in water, desizing and scouring, in which numberless foams are fed between guide rollers positioned in a treatment liquor and the cloth is put on the guide rollers.

4 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 1 11112 SHEET 2 UF 8 FIG.3

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SHEET 8 OF 8 FIG/i1 v INVENI'OR. Yosmxnzu snwm TRKHSHI Tsucmmml m'nosm ISNIDOSM'RO PROCESS FOR A LIQUID TREATMENT OF CLOTH The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing, desizing and scouring; comprising that air foam is utilized in order to improve the efiects remarkably in the liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing, desizing and scouring, and to make even the expansion of cloth and to make uniform the liquid condition, such as a concentration of liquid agents and pH in a vat.

The first object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for such a liquid treatment as a roller type of washing, in which numbers of foams are blown into a processing liquid, such as washing water and others; the foam effect, produced by this, being utilized in order to perform efficiently the liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing and others.

Namely, the present invention is characterized in that a vat for a liquid treatment, such as washing and others, is provided with a group of guide rollers for moving cloth in a zigzag line, and correspondingly to each of these guide rollers, numberless of tiny foams are ejected between the guide rollers and the cloth, which is put on the rollers; and the generated foams move upward along the cloth and come in contact with the upper guide roller in water or a processing liquor; and at that time, a part of foams passes through the cloth with the effect of washing or wetting and the other part flows right and left along the roller to stretch the cloth, which is put on the roller. It is desirable for the expansion of cloth to blow numberless of foams in the middle of the width of the cloth or along the whole length of the width of the cloth upon the surface, which is in contact with the roller.

Besides, according to the present invention, the generated foams move upward, together with the cloth moving and act as buffers in the contact of the cloth with the guide roller between the cloth and the guide roller, to decrease tension on the cloth between the guide rollers. Thus, it is made possible to wash cloth in water or treat it with a liquid, without tension on the cloth.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, when the foams diffuse and expand, they stir the liquid in the vat to expect equalization of the vat temperature and to make uniform the concentration of liquid washing agents and pH in the vat.

According to the present invention, the resistance in contact or passage of cloth on the guide roller, is considerably decreased in the presence of an air cushion layer between the cloth and the guide roller, to make it possible to increase the washing speed and to install a large number of rollers.

The second object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing and others; characterized in that upper and lower guide rollers are installed for moving cloth in a zigzag line, and foam ejecting devices are attached corresponding to each of these guide rollers, and also foam guide plates are set between the said upper guide rollers and the foam ejecting devices, corresponding to the said guide rollers, for guiding foams in the desired position; and the foam ejecting devices, corresponding to the lower guide rollers, being placed near the said guide rollers.

Therefore, according to the present invention, during the time that the cloth is moving in a zigzag line by means of the guide rollers in the vat, the foams are involved in the contact part of the said cloth with the rollers, and are bursted by the pressing power of contact of the cloth and the rollers. Thus, the pressure of the bursting foam is utilized to make the cloth penetrated with a liquid washing agent or other processing liquors.

The pressure invention is also characterized in that the foams, spouted from the foam ejecting device, are without fail guided in the desired position by the function of the foam guide plates so as to perform a quite effective washing or other liquid treatment.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for treatment of cloth, which is characterized in that, upper and lower guide rollers are installed in a vat for moving cloth in a zigzag line through a liquid washing agent or other processing liquors, and foam ejecting devices are attached corresponding to each of these guide rollers; and also foam guide plates are set between the said upper guide rollers and the corresponding foam ejecting devices for guiding cloth to the beginning part of contact of the cloth with the upper guide rollers; and besides, the foam ejecting devices, corresponding to the lower guide rollers, are composed of a unit, being near the said guide roller, and a unit, having wave-like plates and suction apparatus; the wavelike plates generating a wavy stream of the liquid as a counter current on both sides of the cloth, when the cloth moves in a zigzag line by means of the guide rollers, and is carried from below to above; and the suction apparatus approaching to the lower surface of the cloth, moved between both of the said wave-like plates, and absorbing the liquor, which soaks in the cloth.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the cloth is moved in a zigzag line by a number of guide rollers in the vat, and when the cloth comes in contact with the rollers, foams are involved between the said cloth and the rollers and are bursted by the pressing power of contact of the cloth and the rollers, and thus, the pressure of the bursting foam is utilized to make the cloth penetrated with a liquid washing agent or other processing liquors.

The present invention is characterized in that the moving cloth is given with an impact from a wavy stream of the liquor on both sides, and moreover, as the wavy stream of the liquor flows down against the forward direction of the cloth, the impact of the cloth and the liquor becomes so great as to perform an efficient washing; and also, by the absorbing function of the suction box, as being placed near the lower surface of the cloth, dyes, chemicals or starches are, in a moment, taken away from the fibres.

The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a process for an apparatus for washing in air of high pressure and other liquid treatments, which is characterized in that when the cloth is passing through a liquid washing agent or other processing liquors, air of high pressure is jetted on both sides of the cloth surface to blow a large number of tiny foams to the cloth surface, and also, to shake and stir up the processing liquor with the air of high pressure in order to improve the washing or wetting effects.

The fifth object of the present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for washing in air of high pressure and other liquid treatments, which are designed for washing the edge of the cloth and preventing the edge from curling.

The conventional washing of cloth can not generally wash the edge of cloth sufiiciently, but the present invention has developed an improvement of the washing effect by means of blowing air of high pressure to the edge of cloth on both sides in the liquor to wash the edge of cloth with foamy particles of air of high pressure.

In a treatment by using of clips, such as a clip tenter, the edge of cloth is particularly apt to be washed insufficiently. But it is one of the features of the present invention that a perfect washing effect of the edge of cloth can be expected.

According to the present invention, the edge of cloth is blown with air of high pressure from both sides and at the same time the curl of the edge is corrected by the pressure of the air or the liquor in a liquid washing agent or other processing liquors.

Other objects and features will be, one after another, explained in the following examples.

The present invention shall be described referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth according to the present inventron;

FIG. 2 shows a part of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3, a side view ofFlG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and FIG. illustrate another example of a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth according to the present invention, and

FIG. 6 shows a part ofFIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, such as washing, desizing, and scouring, according to the present invention, and

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged section view of a foam ejecting pipe in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, having another form of embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. shows a side view of a part of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 11 A, B and C are respectively a side view, a plan and a front view of a process and an apparatus for a liquid treatment of cloth, having one more form of embodiment of the present invention, and

FIGS. 12 A and B illustrate an example of a foam ejecting pipe ofFIG. 11.

The following examples will be mainly illustrated conceming to the cases of washing in water, but it goes without saying that the examples can, just as they are, be applied to various liquid treatments, such as washing, desizing and scouring in case of mercerization;

EXAMPLE I (FIG. 1 to FIG. 3)

I. shows a washing vat, filled with a liquid washing agent inside, and a number of guide rollers (4) and (4') are arranged above and below in the washing vat for guiding cloth. (3) in a zigzag line.

(5) and (5) are foam generating pipes, and as the details are shown in FIG. 3, a number of tiny holes (6) are made in a row on an air inlet pipe (7), around which an inner net tube (8), and at some spaces from the periphery of the net tube, an outer net tube (9) are installed. The said foam generating pipe (5) is placed so as to spout foams toward the beginning part of contact of the cloth (3) and the guide roller (4'), and the foam generating pipe (5') is installed at the bottom of the washing vat (1). The foams, spouted from the pipe (5'), ascend along the cloth (1), and are involved in the contact part of the cloth (1) and the guide roller (4).

(10) shows a guide roller, installed outside the washing vat; (11), a mangle roller; and (12), a shower, installed at the bottom of the washing vat.

Next, the operation will be explained. The cloth (3) is, first, guided by the guide roller (10) into the washing vat (1), and further, in the said vat (1), is carried in a zigzag line by means of a number of rollers (4) or (4), one after anodier. And later, it is led between the mangle rollers (11) (11) through the guide roller (10) on the side of the cloth, which is getting out. As inside the above-said vat (1), the foam generating pipe (5) is installed to spout foams toward the beginning of the contact part of the cloth (3) and the lower roller (4') and the foam generating pipe (5'), to involve foams between the upper roller (4) and the cloth (3), foams are ejected from these pipes (5), (5') to be involved between the rollers (4) and (4') and the cloth (3), and further, are compressed by the pressure of contact of the cloth (3) and the roller (4) or (4'), and finally, a part of the foams penetrates from the right side to the wrong side of cloth or from the wrong side to the right side, to improve the washing effect. Reacted chemicals, dusts and starches can be effectively taken away. And besides, another part of foams flows right and left along the roller to be able to stretch the cloth.

The above-said foam generating pipes (S) or (5') have double wire nets, inner and outer, one upon another, around an air inlet pipe (7), and air is ejected from tiny holes (6) of the air inlet pipe (7) to generate tiny foams by means of the inner wire net (8). And further, the foams become numberless of fine foams by means of the outer wire net (9) to be fed uniformly between the cloth (3) and the roller (4) or (4'). Thus, characteristically it can be performed quite effectively to wash and expand cloth.

EXAMPLE 2 (FIG. 4 to FIG. 6)

(101) and (101) show upper and lower guide rollers for moving cloth (102) in a zigzag line, and the upper and lower guide rollers (101) and (101') are provided respectively with corresponding foam ejecting pipes (103) and (103'). The above-said upper guide roller (101) and the foam ejecting pipe (103) are spaced vertically at a suitable interval to install the foam guide plate 104) between them.

Thus, the cloth (102) is moved in a zigzag line by means of the guide rollers (101) and (101), arranged in the washing vat (105). Just before the moving cloth (102) comes in contact with the lower guide roller (101), foams, which are ejected from the foam ejecting pipe (103'), are involved between the cloth (102) and the guide roller (101). And further, foams are ejected from the foam ejecting pipe (103) and involved between the cloth (102) and the guide roller (101), just before the cloth (102) comes in contact with the upper guide roller (101).

The foams, involved between the guide rollers (10]) and (101) and the cloth (102), are bursted by the pressure of contact of the guide rollers (10]) and (101) and the cloth (102), and the washing liquor penetrates through the cloth by the pressing power of the said bursted foams, to perform an effective washing.

A foam guide plate (104) is provided between the upper guide roller (101) and the foam ejecting pipe (103). When the foams are ejected from the foam ejecting pipe (103) and ascend in the liquor, the foams can move up along the guide plate (104), and also, by the function of the guide plate (104), since the foam ejecting pipe (103'), corresponding to the lower guide roller, is placed near the said guide roller, the foams are, without fail, effectively guided to the beginning of the contact part of the cloth (102) and the guide rollers (101) and (101' FIG. 4 shows a unit of a certain type of the washing apparatus. Two or more units of the washing apparatus may be, as shown in FIG. 5, arranged horizontally to be connected with each other, and also, arranged vertically to be used in combination, having an advantage in the construction of the apparatus. Further, in some cases, it can be used in combination with other kinds of washing apparatus and suitably designed according to the object of treatment.

EXAMPLE 3 (FIG. 7 and FIG. 8)

(1.1,) shows a unit of washing apparatus, provided with foam ejecting devices inside, and (U a unit of washing apparatus, provided with wavy stream generating devices inside.

First, we will refer to the unit (U,) of washing apparatus. (201) shows a washing vat, filled with a washing liquor (202) inside. A number of guide rollers (204) and (204') are arranged above and below in the washing vat (202) for moving the cloth (203) in a zigzag line. (205) and (205') show foam ejecting pipes, the details of which are shown in FIG. 8. A number of tiny holes (206) are made on an air inlet pipe (207), around which an inner net tube (208), and at some spaces from the periphery of the net tube, an outer net tube (209) are installed to compose the foam ejecting pipe. The foam ejecting pipe (205) is placed so as to spout foams toward the beginning of the contact part of the cloth (203) and the guide roller (204'). The foam generating pipe (205) is installed at the bottom of the washing vat (201 and the foams, spouted from the pipe (205), ascend along the foam guide plate (210) and are involved in the contact part of the cloth (201) and the guide roller (204).

(211) shows a guide roller, installed outside the washing vat; and (212), a mangle roller.

Next, we will refer to unit (U of washing apparatus. (213) shows a basin for a washing liquor (214). Guide rollers (215)(215') are installed at the bottom of the basin (213), and guide rollers (216 216") are in sequence arranged above the basin (213). The cloth (203) is put on each of the guide rollers to be moved in a zigzag line. Wave-like plates (217) are, facing each other, installed at some intervals from the side surface of the cloth (203) on both sides of the cloth, which is moved between the said guide rollers (215) and (216) and also between the guide rollers (216") and (215). (218) shows a suction box, installed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the cloth (203), which is moved between the guide rollers (216') and (216). (219) shows a feeding tank, filled with a washing liquor, which flows down along each of the said wave-like plates (217) from the tank; (220), a feeding tank, filled with a washing liquor, which flows down on the said suction box; (221), a cover of the unit (U and (222), the mangle rollers.

Next, the operation will be explained. In the unit (U the cloth (203) is, first, guided by the guide roller (211) into the washing vat (201) and then, is in sequence moved in a zigzag line by a number of rollers (204) or (204) in the said vat (201), and later, is led between the mangle rollers (212)(212') through the guide roller (211) on the side of the cloth, which is getting out. Inside the above-said vat (201), foam generating pipes (205) are installed for spouting foams toward the beginning of the contact part of the cloth (203) and the lower rollers (204); foam ejecting valves (205'), for ejecting foams toward the upper rollers (204); and foam guide plates (210), for guiding the foams to the beginning of the contact part of the upper rollers (204) and the cloth (203).

r Therefore, the foams are ejected from these pipes (205) and (205') to be efiectively involved between the rollers (204) and (204) and the cloth (203), and are compressed by the pressure of contact of the cloth (203) and the rollers (204) or (204) to be finally bursted. As the washing liquor can be penetrated, by the power of the bursted foams, from the right side of the cloth to the wrong side, or from the wrong side of the cloth to the right side, the reacted chemicals, dusts and starches can be effectively taken away.

The cloth (203) is carried out of the unit (U after the above treatment, and then, carried into the unit (U Inside the unit (U the cloth (203) is moved in a zigzag line by each group (215 and (216) of guide rollers. When the said cloth is moved from below to above, it passes through the ga between two confronting wave-like plates (217) (217) and during that time, receives shocks from the wavy stream, which flows down between the wave-like plates (217) (217), and thus, it can be effectively washed.

Having passed the guide roller (206), the cloth (203) is moved in contact with the suction box (218), and by the action of the suction box (281), the liquor, soaked in the cloth (203) or the liquor, flowing down from the feeder (220), is penetrated through the cloth to perform a wash treatment. Then, the cloth is pressed by the mangle rollers (222) and transferred to the next process.

The present invention is, as above, characterized by that the pressing power of the bursted foams, shocks of the wavy stream of the liquor by means of the wave-like plates and also the suction power of the suction box are utilized for wash treatment of the cloth in a series of apparatus, and thus, it can efficiently be done to wash, desize and scour cloth in a quite effective manner.

EXAMPLE 4 (FIG. 9 and FIG. 10)

(301) shows a washing vat, which comprises that a guide roller (302) is installed near the bottom of the vat, and a cloth (303) is carried through a guide roller (304) into the upper part of the washing vat (301), and is reversed on the roller (302) to be guided through a guide roller (304) above the washing vat (301) and is pressed on the press rolls (305).

(306) shows a steam pipe, installed near the bottom inside the washing vat (301 The lead-in path (307) of the cloth and the lead out path (307) are partitioned inside the washing vat (301), and both of the paths are constructed to be united at the bottom, where the guide roller (302) is placed in the washing vat.

The above-said paths (307), (307) are respectively constricted in many places, and are provided with constricted slits at suitable intervals.

High pressure air pipes (309) are, putting the slit (308) of the lowest stage between them, installed by both sides of the cloth, and also shower pipes (310) for water supply are installed, putting the slit (308) of the second stage between them.

When the cloth (303) passes, as shown in the drawing, through the washing vat (301), high pressure air is ejected into water in confronting positions from both sides of the cloth in the narrow slit (308) and fine foamy particles strike the cloth. Thus, it can be made a great step forward in improvement of the washing effect, in cooperation with that of the vibration of water. It may be more effective to wash, if a detergent is added in the washing vat, at that time.

Water is supplied, as a shower, from other slits, to improve the washing effect by the showery water.

Water of the washing vat (301) overflows from the upper part ofthe paths (307)(307') through the pipes (311) (311').

EXAMPLE 5 (FIG. 11 and FIG. 12

(401) shows a washing vat, and (402), a guide roller, arranged near the bottom inside the washing vat (401 The cloth (403) comes in the washing vat (401) from above, and is reversed on the guide roller (402) to get out of the washing vat (401) toward above. During that time, the edge of the cloth is washed and the curl of the edge is corrected, as the undermentioned.

(404) show high pressure air nozzles, facing each other, placed near both faces of the edge of the cloth (403), and arranged to intersect at an angle the forwarding direction (405) of the cloth (403).

Each of the above-said high pressure air nozzles (404) is supported on the wall of the washing vat (401), by a sliding device (406), and can be freely slided along the width of the cloth by the operation of a handle (407) to be able to be set in an appropriate position, confonning to the width of the cloth.

(408) shows an inlet for high pressure air, which is connected with the nozzles (404) through a flexible pipe (409).

The nozzle (404) is, as shown in FIG. 12(A) provided with a number of air ejecting holes (410) in the longitudinal direction, or, as shown in FIG. 12 (B), with a series of slits.

When the cloth (403) passes through the liquor in the washing vat (401), high pressure air is sprayed toward the edge of the cloth from the high pressure air nozzle (404), which is near each of both sides of the respective edges of the cloth. It can be, by means of fine foamy particles, done quite efficiently to wash and besides, to correct the curl of the edge.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for the liquid treatment of cloth such as washing in water and other liquids, desizing and scouring, comprising the steps of providing a liquid level within a container and locating roller surfaces in the container below the level of the liquid, feeding a cloth in a path over the roller surfaces, injecting numberless fine foam into the liquid from a location below the liquid level and directing the fine foam for passage between the surface of the cloth and the roller surface over which the cloth is fed.

2. A process for stretching cloth in a liquid, comprising the steps of providing a liquid level within a container and locating roller surfaces in the container below the level of the liquid, feeding a cloth in a path over the roller surfaces, injecting numberless fine foam into the liquid from a location below the liquid level and directing the fine foam at the middle of the width of the cloth for passage between the surface of the cloth and the roller surfaces over which the cloth is fed.

3. A process, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of injecting the fine foam comprises directing liquid through a plurality of orifices and then through a net-like surface into the liquid for forming the numberless fine foam.

4. A process, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of injecting the fine foam comprises directing liquid through a plurality of orifices and then through a net-like surface into the liquid for forming the numberless fine foam. 

2. A process for stretching cloth in a liquid, comprising the steps of providing a liquid level within a container and locating roller surfaces in the container below the level of the liquid, feeding a cloth in a path over the roller surfaces, injecting numberless fine foam into the liquid from a location below the liquid level and directing the fine foam at the middle of the width of the cloth for passage between the surface of the cloth and the roller surfaces over which the cloth is fed.
 3. A process, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of injecting the fine foam comprises directing liquid through a plurality of orifices and then through a net-like surface into the liquid for forming the numberless fine foam.
 4. A process, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of injecting the fine foam comprises directing liquid through a plurality of orifices and then through a net-like surface into the liquid for forming the numberless fine foam. 